Improvement in windmills



2 Sheets-Sheet l. M. L. HOWARD.

WiTNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON 0c Patented Sept. 4,1877;

WITNESSES AT ORNEY UNITED 'r'rns MARTIN L. HOWARD, OF CLEAR LAKE, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WINDMILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,822, datedSeptember 4, 1877; application filed July 10, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN L. HOWARD, ofClear Lake, in the county of Oerro Gordo and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Windmills; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1, Sheet1, is a side elevation of my improved wind-wheel. Fig. 2 is a plan viewwith the wheel removed. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a horizontal sectionthereof. Fig. 4 is a detached plan view of the brake. Fig. 5 is adetached perspective view of a pair of the vanes of the wheel proper,and Fig. 6 is a similar view of the wheel proper itself.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like letters.

This invention relates to certain improvements in wind-wheels; and itconsists, first, of the peculiar construction of the wheel proper;secondly, in the employment of chutes arranged with a view to obtainingthe full force of the wind upon the wheel; and, thirdly, of brakemechanism, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

-In the annexed drawings, A A refer to a frame or inclosure supportedupon uprights or posts a a. B refers to the wheel proper, its axis orshaft b bearing in the top of the inclosure A A, and passing downthrough the bottom thereof, and hearing, at its lower end, in a suitablesupport or cross-piece. To this axis or shaft are secured curved radialvanes B B, in the manner hereinafter described, so as to allow the windstriking and entering between the vanes upon one side of the wheel topass through the wheel and strike the vanes upon the opposite side ofthe wheel, and thus accelerate its speed, the vanes being curved andarranged, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, to combine with theirmanner of attachment in bringing about that result.

The vanes or wings B B are preferably put together in pairs, and so asto provide spaces between each other, one of the transverseuniting-pieces b b of a pair being fastened to the other, and it to theshaft or axis 1), so as to leave a space around the said shaft or axis,as seen in Fig. 6, for the purpose before mentioned.

O C are chutesin each side of the inclosure A, and consisting each oftwo boards projecting inwardly, and disposed a suitable distance apart,and at such an angle with each other as to direct the full force of thewind in upon the wheel from whichever quarter it may be blowing. Thesechutes are braced in position at about midway their length, as at c c.

d d are wings or vanes, hinged or pivoted to the uprights of the frameor inclosure A.

D D are arms or bars radiating from a ring, 0, confined to the bottom ofthe frame or inclosure A A, around the axis or shaft of the wheel, and,preferably, beneath plates e e, fastened to the said bottom. The freeends of these arms or bars are turned upwardly, as at ff, for the vanesor wings d d to bear against as the latter are exerted upon by the windto rotate the said arms or bars, which in turn apply the brake,presently described, to regulate the motion or power of the wheel. A baror pendant, g, depends from one of the arms or bars D D through anelongated slot, h, in the bottom of the inclosure A, and is connected bya rod, 0', or other suitable medium to the frame or brake E, disposed soas to bear upon the shaft or axis 1), as seen in Figs. 1 and 4:, anddepending from the bottom of the inclosure A. The free end of one of thebars of the frame or brake E, to which is attached one end of the rod0', has also attached to it a cord or rope, j, passing down over apulley, 70, secured to one of the posts, and connecting with a Windlass,l, likewise secured in position. This is an additional means for, oranother way of, applying the brake.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 18-- 1. The wheel B B, consisting of the curvedradial arms or wings B B, put together in pairs, and connected to theaxis or shaft 1) of the wheel by the bars I) I), one of the bars b 1)connecting a pair of wings together, being connected to the other bar ofsaid pair of wings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The wheel B, having the curveghradial Wings or vanes B B, arrangedwith reference to each other and the axis of the wheel, as described, incombination with the inclosure A, having the chutes O (3, arranged asset forth substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The vanes or wings d d, in combination with the radial arms or bars DD f f, pendant g, rod 73 or its equivalent, brake E, and wheelaxis orshaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN L. HOWARD.

Witnesses JOHN T. LATTIMORE, O. R. SIMENsoN.

